Drawing and lapping press



R. 8. SMITH AND H. MILLER.

DRAWING AND LA PPI NG PRESS.

APPLICATIONHLED AUG.14, I920.

Patented June 27, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HTTORNEYS R. 8. SMITH AND H. MILLER.

DRAWING AND LAPPING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I4, I920- 1,421,035, Patented June 27,1922.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

o STATES fP' AT ENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNORS TO A. 0. SMITH CORPORATION,

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A

DRAWING AND LAPPING PRESS.

Specification of LettersPatent. Patented June 2'7, 1922 Application filed .August 14,1920. "Se-rial lam-403,571

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, REUBEN STANLEY SMITH and HnNRY ll IILLER,.citizens of the United States, and residents of the cit of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and tate of Wisconsin, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drawing and Lapping Presses (Case 153) and We do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings as an illustration of onezform \of press in which our invention has been embodied.

The invention relates to lapping presses.

Our invention resides in an improved con struction embodying a drawing press of the type used to convert sheetmetal blanks into channel bars, such as constitute the crossbars of an automobile or other vehicle frame, combined with mechanism which acts toturn or lap the projecting ends of the flanges of the channel bar, so that the ears or laps thus formed will stand in angular relationto the said flanges. The purpose in lapping the ends of the cross bar in the manner described, is to form fastening cars by means of which the cross bars maybeconnected to the side bars of an automobile frame, so as to produce a unitary, rigid and permanent structure. The cross bars are connected to the side bars by means of rivets passing through the said ears or lapsand through the side bars at certain uniting points, in a man ner which is now well known.

The present invention relates to a drawing press for shaping a blank into a channeled cross bar, and to attachments fort-urning the projecting ends of the flanges of such bar from the planes which they assume in the drawing operation, into others which ordinarily will be 90 therefrom, in one cycle of operation of the press.

The said invention also embodies lapping devices which in one operation serve to turn the said ears about 45 from their initial plane, and which in a second operation complete the turning or bending of the ears, so that they are permanently set at90 or other angle, such lapping devices being capable of functioning independently and apart from the drawing press in connection with which they are herein disclosed.

Inourimproved press, the punch or die which forces the blank into the matrix to drawsuch blankinto the form of a channeled cross bar of desired-shape, is intermittingly operated during a fraction of-the time cycle in which a complete operation of the press takes place, with a period of rest during the remainder of such time cycle. The lapping mechanisms are constantly operated, and perform their various movements during allotted subdivisions of the said time cycle,'

in a manner which will be specifically explained hereinafter.

A set of lapping devices is arranged at each end of the press, in position for simultaneous ,operationnpon both ends of the cross bar, so that the longitudinal thrusts or stresses exerted by the'pressure of the lapping dies in opposition to each other are neutralized.

The present invention involves an improvement in the lapping mechanism disclosed in the application of R. Stanley Smith and Thorvald Hansen, filed July 26, 1920, Serial #399,214, such improvement relating to the p'revision'o'f means for divid ing the lapping operation into two steps. In the operation of the lapping devices disclosed in the said application, the projecting end of the cross bar is bent and permanently flattened in a single operation. But such single operation does not always set the fastening ears in the position required, by reason of the resiliency of the material, and the manner inwhich the flattening pressure is applied. By means of our inn provement, the occasional defect noted has been overcome, and the projecting end of the cross bar is bent or turned from the plane of the flangeby one die, and then further bent and "flattened by a second die, which latter exerts pressure directly against the ear and squeezes or compresses it against the endof the punch of the drawing mechanism, and so sets the said ear at the exact angle desired, and in permanent position with relation to the flange of the crossbar, so that no subsequent treatment of the ear isnecessary to properly align the same.

We have devised an actuating means for moving the dies of the lapping mechanism in succession, so that such dies may be properly positioned to enable them to perform first, the partial bending o eration, and then the flattening operation cescribed.

The blank to form the channeled cross bar may first be shaped in an ordinary drawing press, and the cross bar thus previously formed may then be subjected to the action of our improved drawing and lap ping press to have the projecting ends turned to form the fastening ears. In such operation, the cross bar will be clamped, between the punch and the matrix of the press and the projecting ends first bent and then flattened against the ends of the punch, or matrix, to set the ears at the required angle with relation to the cross bar on which they are formed.

The novel features of our invention will be pointed out in the claims appended to this specification.

In the drawings hereto attached, Figure 1 is an end view in elevation of our im proved lapping press, parts being broken out to show more clearly the arrangement of certain elements.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the press shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the left of the last mentioned figure.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view in elevation looking from the left of Fig. 1, and from the bottom of Fig. 2, parts being broken out and others shown in section for the sake of clearance.

Figs. 4c and 5 show the formation of the lapping dies which turn the ears of the cross bar toward each other, and across the channel of the bar.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the formation of the dies for turning the said ears into tandem relation.

In an application filed January 21, 1918, Serial #212,93-l, and patented November 15, 1921, #1397920, by R. Stanley Smith, one of the parties hereto, there is disclosed an as semblage of machines, such assemblage including machines which by their related, connected and successive operations, punch from metal plates and strips the side and cross bar and other blanks used in constructing an automobile or other vehicle frame, shape such blanks according to the particular requirements appertaining to each, perform the necessary milling operations thereon, assemble the several constituent parts of the frame, and permanently secure all of such parts in their respective positions, so that in a continuous operation of mechanical devices a completed automobile or other vehicle frame is automatically produced. The present invention is designed to form an element of the assemblage of machines referred. to.

In erecting modern drawing presses, it

has been found advantageous to reverse the older arrangement of some of the parts, and to construct the presses so that the main operating mechanisms thereof, including the shaft and gears, are located in a pit and below the level of the floor line with reference to which the press is set. One very desirable result flowing from the construction of drawing presses in the manner described, is that the towering superstructure of the older form of presses is eliminated, and the main operating mechanisms by reason of their changed location, are so placed that they no longer constitute a menace or source of injury to the workmen employed in operating the press, inasmuch as the pressmen can perform their duties unrestrained and without fear of contact with and accidental injury by the moving mechanism of the press. The use of safety guards or fenders for the press is obviated in the newer constructions. Another advantage lies in the fact that an efficient system of lubrication of the main operating mechanism of the press is provided, it being possible to lubricate the press by means of a constant shower of oil, sprayed upon the main operating mechanism located in the pit beneath the floor. Further, the oil dripping from the press may be collected and after filtration may be used again for lubricating purposes. See Patent No. 1,368,366 granted February 15, 1921, to R. S. Smith.

Referring to the drawings, 1.0 indicates the base or main frame of the press, which is supported in a specially prepared pit of appropriate dimensions, and extends upwardly a suitable distance to bring the bed 12 of the press to the correct level above the line of the floor. A: sub-frame 11 depending from the main frame 10, extends to the bottom of the pit. Tension rods 13, arranged in pairs as in Fig. 1, are guided in vertical reciprocation in openings formed for the main frame 10, and carry at their lower ends cross heads 14. one cross head to each pair of tension rods. At their upper ends, the said tension rods are attached to a crown piece 15, to the under face of which the punching die 16 is attached. A matrix 17 is placed in the bed 12, and co-operates with the punching die 16, in drawing the blank into a bar with projecting side flanges.

Power is applied to the press through the driving shaft 21, upon which is fixed a pinion 22, in mesh with a gear 28 upon the main driven shaft 24: of the press. Rotating loosely upon the shaft 24 are eccentrics 25, embraced by eccentric straps 26, which are connected at their free ends to arms 27 of. a rock shaft 28. The eccentrics 25 are adapted to be clutched to the driven shaft 24ldso as to rotate therewith, as will be described hereinafter. Links 29, pivoted at the point of connection of the eccentric straps 26 and arms 27, are connected to other like arms 270 upon rock shafts 280. The shafts 28 and 280 have like extending arms 30, which are connected at their free ends by' means of links 31, the latter being connected to the lower cross heads 14, as shown in Fig. 1. The arms 30 and the links 31 referred to, comprise toggle motions, which, when straightened under the action of the eccentrics 25, will force the cross heads 14 downward, and through the tension rods 13, draw the crown piece 15 and punching die 16, to impart the desired cross sectional shape to the channeled crossbar, all in a manner which is now fully understood.

The main shaft 24 carries at its other end a reducing gear 32, which is in mesh with a gear 33, fixed upon a shaft 34, journaled in.

the sub-frame of the press. A gear 35 is fixed upon the shaft 34, andmeshes with a gear 36 rotating upon a stub shaft 37. R0- tating with the gear 36 upon the stub shaft 37 is a bevel gear 38, which in turn engages a like bevel gear 39 on rock shaft 40, which %atter has functions which will be described ater.

The said shaft 34 is also provided with eccentrics 41 and 42, set at an angle of 180 from each other, so that the strains generated in the rotation of the eccentrics on the shaft 34, oppose and balance each other. The eccentrics 41 and 42 are surrounded by oppositely extending eccentric straps 43 and 44, which latter at their free ends are connected with bell crank levers 45, pivoted at 47, upon opposite sides of the base 10.

As shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the bed or top surface of the press extend some distance beyond the straining rods 13, and vertical openings are formed therein, for the reception of the lapping mechanism, previously referred to. The matrix members are supported in the bed at the middle of the press, and between the openings in which the lapping mechanism is arranged, so that the cross bar is held in proper position in the matrix for the action of the lapping mechanism, to turn the projecting ears of the cross bar. The matrix members 17 are removable so as to be replaced by others of different lengths, whenever it is desired to produce a cross bar of another type, the length of which may be greater or less than that of the matrix with which the press is equipped. Knockout pins 50 actuated by a spring pressed knockout bar 51, pass upwardly through the'bed of the press and into the matrix and perform the function of ejecting the cross bar from the matrix, in well known manner.

I11 view of the expansive strains to which the press is subjected during the operation of the lapping mechanism, we arrange hori- Zontal tie rods 52 lengthwise of the bed of the press, and for the purpose of lending additional strength and rigidity to the structure, we pass the ends of the tie rods through bars 53, abutting the ends of the press, to hold the bed structure in a state of longitudinal compression, and resist the said strains.

Upon the opposite side walls of the recesses in the ends of the bed of thepress, we arrange suitable guides 54 which support and direct the movement of the lap ping mechanisms, one at each end of the press. The lapping mechanisms are supported by sliding carriages 55, moving hori- Zontally upon the said guides 54. A block block 57 set in the bed frame and bearing against the resistance bar 53, receive the free ends of a toggle-58, connected by means of a link1-59to the opposite end of the bell crank 45, previously referred to, so that upon rotation of the oppositely set eccentrics 41 and 42, the carriages 55 supporting the lapping mechanism, will be synchronously reciprocated to and from the central portion of the bed of the press, to turn the ears of the cross bar held in the matrix.

At the time of the formation of the channeled cross bar from a sheet metal blank, in the forms illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7 the flanges with which such bar is provided will have projecting portions or wings which are to constitute the ears of the cross bar. As shown by the dotted lines 79 in Figs. 4 and 6, the projecting portions of the flanges which constitute the ears, extend rectilinearly in the line of movement of the lapping dies. Figs. 4 and 5 show a form of cross bar 80, in which the ears 81, are to be turned toward each other so as to lie across the channel of the bar. To turn the projecting ears from their initial rectilinear positions, we employ a bending die 60, of the form shown in Fig. 4, which die 60 is provided with angular converging faces, which, when the said die is moved into engagement with the projecting ears of the cross bar, will bend such ears so that they a will stand at an angle of about 45 from the plane of the flanges upon which they are formed. In such operation, the die 60 is moved to turn the flanges by reason of the toggle 58 beingstraighten'ed by the action of the eccentrics on the shaft 34, and serving to move the carriage 55 toward the center of the press, so that the said die 60 will be brought into engagement with the projecting ears. The die 60 is withdrawn by breaking the toggle, in the further movement of the actuating eccentric. The said die 60 is mounted upon a sliding head 62, contained in a vertical guide 63, formed in the face of the carriage 55. The said head 62 also carries a flat faced die 61, which latter is designed to complete a folding operation upon the ears of the cross bar, so that such ears will be set at an an 56 mounted upon the carriage 55, and a gle of 90 from the plane of theflanges upon which they are formed, and as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The forming dies shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are operated in precisely the same'manner, and differ only in the configuration of the die 600, which turns the ears of the cross bar to the first angular position of they die being formed with angular faces which will serve to turn the ears so that the latter will extend in the same direction, andv lie tandem with respect to each other. It will be understood that forms of dies other than those shown in Figs. 4 and 6 may be used to impart the first turn or bend of the cars from their initial positions, the configuration of such other dies being such as will serve to produce the displacement of the ears in the direction desired. In the construction illustrated, the lapping dies areshown as dovetailed in the face of the head 62 and secured therein by set screws, by means of which latter the dies may be adjusted exactly with reference to their vertical position in the sliding head 62. a

The head 62 carrying the lapping dies, is given a vertical reciprocation by means of a crank 64, fixed on the end of a shaft 65, and connected to the sliding head by means of a link 651. The said shaft 65 is journaled in the lower part of the carriage 55, and confined against longitudinal movement therein, so that the said shaft partakes of the movement toward and from the center of the press with the carriage 55, while the lapping operation is being performed. The said shaft is rotated by means of the pinion 66, splined upon the shaft 65. The elongated hub of the pinion 66 is journaled for rotation in the main frame 10, but the said pinion is restrained from axial movement, although the shaft 65 is free, for lengthwise movement in the gear 66, when the carriage 55 is reciprocated.

A segmental gear 67, pivotally mounted at 670, on the frame 10, is in mesh with the gear 66, to which and the shaft 65, a reciprocating rotary motion is imparted to move the lapping dies to the vertical positions which they respectively occupy at the time of the performance of the work which they are designed to accomplish.

Oscillatingmotion is imparted to the segmental gear 67 by means of cams 68 and 69, fixed upon the shaft 40, which is rotated by the means hereinbefore referred to. A link 70 connected to the segmental gear 67 at a point somewhat distant from the pivot of the latter, is connected at its other end to a pivoted lever 71, provided with arms 72 and 73, carr ing anti-friction rollers which bear against and follow the acting faces of the cams 68 and 69.

The crown 15, carrying the punch 16, is

actuated intermittingly, and its movements are governed by a timing mechanism of any suitable construction. A clutch mechanism of suitable type is interposed between the shaft 24: and the eccentrics 25, which latter as previously stated, are free to rotate upon the driven shaft 24-, but are adapted to be thrown into connection therewith at the desired moment by the movement of the clutch, under the control of the timing mechanism. The clutch and the timing mechanism are so well known that it is unnecessary in this connection to illustrate and describe their particular construction.

The opposed eccentrics l1 and 43, on the shaft 3%, are driven constantly in a prede termined time cycle. The ratio of movement of the shafts 24 and 34 is 1 to 1. The ratio of movement of the ears 82 and 33 is 1 to 2. In the operation OI the machine, the punch 16 is forced into the matrix to draw the blank into the desired cross sectional shape. vi hereupon the clutch is thrown out, and the punch remains at rest for the remainder of the cycle of movement, during which the two operations of the lapping mechanism the place. In the actual operation, at the time that the punch 16 has reached the bottim of the matrix, the lapping die 60 is moved to turn the ears of the cross bar to their first angular position of 45. In the continued operation of the eccentrics 4:1 and a2, that is in the second quarter of the cycle, the lapping die. is retracted, and the head 62 is shifted to bring the die 61 into position to complete the lapping operation, it being understood that during the movements of the lapping dies, the punch 16 re mains in its position of rest within the matrix, and that the ears of the cross bar are pressed against the ends thereof, by the said die 61, in the third quarter of the cycle. During the fourth quarter of the cycle of movement, the lapping mechanism is withdrawn, and the slide again shifted. sous to present the die 60 for another operation, and during this final movement the punch 16 is withdrawn to its elevated position. to permit the now completed cross bar 80. to be ejected from the matrix and removed from the press. Simultaneously, with the removal of the cross bar 80, from the press, a fresh blank is fedbetween the forming dies, and then subjected to the sequence of operations described.

To enable the press to form lapped ears on crossbars of different lengths, we have provided a simple means whereby the path of travel of the dies of the lapping mechanism may be varied. Vie achieve this result of the press may be varied to meet the conditions attending the formation of the-ears upon the cross bars of different lengths, as will be readily understood.

The provision of the splined connection between the shaft 65 and gear 66, enables the saidshaft to readily follow the movement of the carriage 55, in which it is journaled, when the adjustment described takes place. A cap plate 76 connects the block 56 and the fillers so that the said parts move as a unitary structure.

Modifications of the construction illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention. Although we have shown the two lapping die members of each set as separately formed, it is obvious that the die may be formed integrally, the upper portion of such integral die being provided with an inclined face, suitable to the performance of the particular work desired.

As stated in one of the paragraphs at the commencement of this specification, the blank from which the channeled cross bar is drawn, may be shaped in an ordinary drawing press. The cross bar may then be placed in the lapping press, and clamped therein by the punch. The lapping device may then operate to turn the projecting ends of the cross bar, so as to turn and flatten such ends against the ends of the punch, or of the matrix, as the case may be, the operation of lapping depending on whether the ears are to extend toward or from the axis of the cross bar.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A press comprising a punch for drawing a blank into shape as a cross bar, a lappin mechanism comprising dies for successive y acting upon each of the projecting ends of the blank to first bend and then flatten said ends to form fastening ears upon the cross bar, and means for so actuating the said dies.

2. A lapping mechanism for presses, comprising a pair of successively acting dies, the first of which is operated to partially turn the projecting end of a blank from its initial, rectilinear position, and the second of which is operated to further turn the said end to its final position to form a fastening ear, and means for actuating the dies in the order mentioned.

3. A press comprising a punch for drawing a blank" into shape as a cross bar, a lapping die co-acting with the end of the punch to divert the projecting end of the blank from its initial plane to form a fastening ear upon the cross bar, and means to position and actuate the die to perform the lapping operation in successive steps.

4. A press comprising a punch for drawinga blank into shape as a crossbar, a lapping mechanism composed of a sliding carrier supporting a reciprocating lapping die member, means for reciprocating the die member to position the same with relation to the end of the punch, and means to actuate the sliding carrier to turn theproje'ct'- ing end of the blank to form a fastening ear upon the cross bar, by a succession of operations of the lapping die memberl 5. A presscomprising apunch for drawing a blank into shape as a cross bar, and a lapping mechanism comprising successively acting dies arranged at each end of the punch and co-acting therewith, to simultaneously turn the projections at the ends of the blank to form fastening ears upon the cross bar.

6. A press comprising an intermittingly actuated punch for drawing a blank into shape as a cross bar, and constantly actuated lapping mechanism operating in time cycles for turning the projecting ends of the lblank to form fastening ears upon the cross ar. e

7. A press comprising an intermittingly actuated punch for drawing a blank into shape as a channeled cross bar, a constantly actuated lapping mechanism provided with a plurality of successively operating dies for turning the projecting ends of the blank to form fastening ears upon the cross bar, means for actuating the punch, and means for actuating the lapping dies in succession.

8. A press having a punch and a matrix in which a cross bar is drawn from a blank by the punch, a set of separately acting lapping dies at each end of the matrix, and means for simultaneously actuating the cooperating lapping dies of each set in succession, to turn the projecting ends of the blank against the ends of the punch to form fastening ears upon the cross bar.

9. A press comprising a punch for drawing a blank into shape as a cross bar, oppositely working lapping dies adapted to turn the projecting ends of the cross bar around the ends of the punch to form fastening ears, means for actuating the punch, and means for actuating the lapping dies.

10. A press for lapping the projecting ends of cross bars, embracing devices adapted, first, to bend, and second, to flatten the said projecting ends of the bar, and means for actuating the said devices in the order named.

11. A press provided with dies for lapping the projecting ends of cross bars, comprising means for clamping the bar, sliding carriages movable toward and from the ends of the cross bar, and sliding die carriers mounted on the said carriages to present the lapping dies for successive operations.

12. A press for operating on the ends of cross bars, comprising means for holding the and means for simultaneously moving both dies.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names at Milwaukee, this 12 day of August, 15 1920.

R. STANLEY SMITH. HENRY MILLER.

Witnesses:

W. F. WOOLARD, ELIZABETH MURRAY. 

